Red Hot Chili Peppers show in Madison, WI in 2003.
We got there late driving from Chicago after school (I was a HS freshman), so missed the first opening act. Walked in during the middle of Queens of the Stone Age, who were KILLING it. I remember walking into the arena bowl to Go With The Flow... they were supporting Songs for the Deaf.
Pushed my way to the front to be set to get a close view of Flea or John (who was my primary guitar hero at the time). Got to the front barricade and there's this guy with a blond tipped afro chatting with some concertgoers from behind the barricade. Seemed like a totally chill dude but for some reason these guys were fawning over him and I couldn't figure out why.
About six months later, I heard Deloused in the Comatorium for the first time and was like, "Wow, this drummer is in-effing-credible!" Looked them up online, and sure enough, the drummer is that guy, and since then I've been regretful that we couldn't get there in time for that no-name first act: The Mars Volta.
I get that TMV probably isn't most people's cup of tea here, but those first three albums were, IMO, the pinnacle of prog rock even if I'm not a fan of Cedric's voice. As a drummer--particularly a single kick drummer--Jon Theodore was unbelievably good. He now drums for QOTSA and, honestly, it feels like a waste of his talent.
Another one which was kind of cool: one of my good friends does FOH and monitors at some prominent venues in Chicago. One night he got me in for a Dinosaur Jr show (which is still the loudest I've ever been to... the guitars weren't even going through the PA). I got to help break down their backline which was sweet to see J Mascis' whole rig. A couple of cranked JMP 100W amps on stage for a 400 top venue. Crazy!
I have A LOT. But I will share yet another. I'm not gonna name names here but, I was helping load in backline shit at Riverport in the early 2000's when a fairly popular "Christian Rock/Metal" band that had some big hits was playing. The dreadlocked singer was standing backstage, very VERY upset and screaming for anyone in earshot "ISNT THERE ANY FUCKING COKE IN THIS FUCKING TOWN??" Living in Saint Louis, I found that statement funny..and watching his "positive interviews" at the time made it even funnier.
POD? "I feel so alive! Gimme another line! Any yay is some good yay!"